InD'Tale Review Magazine recently gave The Soul Mate Search five stars to celebrate I'm giving away three signed softback copies of The Soul Mate Search. Make sure to enter by commenting, but you can snag your Ecopy using the code SoulMate40 at SweetCravings

WHAT IS A SOUL MATEDoes everyone have a soul mate? Better yet, what is a soul mate? It depends on how you define a soul mate. The Greek philosopher Aristophanes first coined the idea of a race of soul mates. Instead of two individuals who loved each other, his soul mate had four arms, four legs, and two faces. They were two humans united as one. They had one mind, one purpose, and one soul. In each other, they found complete happiness and had no need for anything or anyone else, especially the gods. Zeus, the head god, split the soul mates asunder with a thunderbolt. Devastated, the separated soul mates spent the rest of their lives looking for one another, questioning everyone they met with the single poignant question, “Are you my soul mate?” If you have a soul mate, would you recognize him or her? Probably not. Your eyes don’t always meet across the room and you know. Ricardo Montablan, actor best remembered for his Mr. Roarke portrayal, did experience such a connection. He spotted his future wife, Georgiana, across the room at a crowded party. As he made his way toward her, he thought this is my bride. Two weeks later, they married and remained devoted to each other for the rest of their lives. Not too surprising, Ricardo died shortly after Georgiana’s death. One of the components of a soul mate is not imagining life without the other. Wonderful story, exactly the kind you’d expect for a soul mate, but it seldom works that way. It would be wonderful if we all knew who are soul mates are, but sadly, we don’t. Why aren’t we meeting our soul mates? Most of us have shaped our perception of soul mates via romantic movies. In fact, many women specify on online date sites that they’ll only date men six foot and taller, blue eyes, and dark hair. That cuts out more than 89 percent of the men. We expect certain packaging and often tolerate shabby treatment from someone who meets our erroneous appearance standard. The second reason is timing. Often people expect a soulmate in their twenties and when it doesn’t happen, settle into a mediocre relationship or grow embittered because of lack of a soul mate. The third reason is opportunity. The old joke is the only person who comes to your door is the UPS man. Lately, he only rings the bell and runs. Finally, the fourth reason is lack of belief. Even though many people believe in soul mates, an equal amount don’t believe. These people grumble that men are jerks and women are users. People tend to get what they expect. The late Agatha Christie endured a rough first marriage, but eventually divorced to find real happiness and literary success with her second husband. Her second husband’s support and belief in her made the seventy plus novels she wrote a reality. A soul mate supports your most secret dream. Soul mates have a tendency to look each other in the eye more than other couples do when speaking. They’re respectful of each other. No talking to the profile because they value what the other has to say. A soul mate makes you feel good about yourself. By his or her side is exactly where you want to be.No wonder Nina wants to finds hers after being told he exists, even lives in the same town.

EXCERPT

Rain started by the time she pulled into the grocery store parking lot. Her planned sprint turned into a walk as dizziness swept over her. Great, all she needed was to pass out. Making it into the store foyer, she shook to rid herself of the excess moisture, no doubt resembling a dog. The store cranked up the air conditioning normally, but today with damp clothing, it was frigid.She rushed through the store as her arms goose pimpled from the chill. A quick glance down at her wet shirt explained why the man stocking sodas stared at her, well at her chest anyhow. Pulling the wet shirt away from her skin, she headed for the grinder. Pouring the coffee beans into the grinder, she mentally calculated how long it would take her to return to the sanctuary of her house. So far, so good. No one she knew had seen her. Just as well, she didn’t want to make polite with anyone. Her bed called out to her. She could hear its siren call over the sound of the coffee grinder.Inhaling the aroma of fresh ground beans deeply, she thought the heavenly scent by itself might heal her. Taking her coffee, ginger ale, and snatching up some yogurt, she headed for the self-check scanner. She was ready to explain to the cashier who monitored the aisles she’d brought the coffee in with her, but the woman never looked up from her perusal of a gossip magazine.Her purchases bagged, she headed for the car. All she had to do was reach her car without any human interaction, when a man walking in spoke to her.“Your coffee smells wonderful. Is it a Sumatran blend?”She looked up into the face of a smiling man with curling damp hair and water spotted glasses. Her brain went dead. The absolute worse time to meet anyone. She managed to mumble her reply. “I think it is.” She walked away hoping he wasn’t watching her. Why couldn’t she run into men like that when she was dressed for work?Unlocking her car, she slipped on the smooth leather seat since her legs were wet. Could she look any worse? Men didn’t normally try to strike up conversations with her in the grocery store, with the exception of the butcher who tried to convince her to buy a more expensive cut of meat. Twisting the key into the ignition, she drove home. The brief flash of the man who talked to her came to mind. He was taller than she was, a little on the lanky side, curly hair with a few threads of silver, glasses, and brown eyes. Her foot stomped on the brakes. Oh my God, it was her soul mate!

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